Office of the Historian

340. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Pakistan1

Washington, January 9, 1959—2:55 p.m.

1588. Paris pass CINCEUR for MAD. Embtels 14042 and 1584.3FYI. Since original 1954 commitment was substantially completed FY 1959 Pakistan MAP had to be considered in relation to larger political, military and economic problem of post 1954 commitment MAP for Pakistan. However, interagency working group having now reached preliminary conclusions, approval has been given for all but very small portion of balance FY 1959 MAP. Approval portion includes construction (principally Jhellum cantonment), attrition aircraft, 72 M–47 tanks, tank transporters, electronics and communications equipment, vehicles, training aids and ammunition and consumables.

MAAG Chief will receive separately from Defense further details on approved program following Bureau Budget apportionment funds. End FYI.

Since FY 1959 MAP has been discussed at highest levels in Karachi you will undoubtedly wish inform President Ayub personally of this approval in general terms but including specific mention 72 M–47’s stating that these tanks approved on express condition that corresponding number of obsolete tanks will be retired by Pakistan Army (Embtel 680).4

Regarding specific GOP requests originally reported Embtel 13235 for higher performance aircraft and improved radar you should reply re aircraft along lines already used by Chief MAAG (MAAGPAK 9–225)6 that U.S. believes it is not feasible from technical and financial viewpoints to consider question modernization of existing PAF fighters until B–57 squadron programmed for FY 1959 and 1960 has been effectively absorbed by PAF. On radar, inform GOP that already approved [Page 693] MAPs for Pakistan through FY 1958 contain four heavy radar equipments (two search and two heightfinder) sufficient for two installations. Chief MAAG has technical information on these units and forecast as to their availability.7

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790D.5–MSP/1–759. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Roswell D. McClelland, Officer in Charge of Politico-Military Affairs, Office of Near Eastern and South Asian Regional Affairs, and William F. Spengler of SOA. Repeated to Paris.↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 338.↩
  3. In telegram 1584, January 7, Ambassador Langley stated that the unresolved military assistance program for Pakistan for fiscal year 1959 was “creating increasingly embarrassing situation.” He added that the silence of the Department on that subject, “except to deny delay in approval 1959 program is political, inexplicable to Embassy no less than to Pakistanis.” Langley pointed out that what he found most disturbing about this matter was the possible effect of the delay on Ayub, “who increasingly shows signs of justifiable impatience.” (Department of State, Central Files, 790D.5–MSP/1–759)↩
  4. In telegram 680, September 24, 1958, the Embassy reported that Pakistan had been withdrawing obsolete military equipment as soon as it received new equipment from the United States. (Ibid., 790D.5–MSP/9–2458)↩
  5. Dated November 28, 1958. (Ibid., 790D.5400/11–2858)↩
  6. Not found.↩
  7. On January 10, Langley met with Ayub and informed him of the U.S. approval of the fiscal year 1959 Military Assistance Program for Pakistan, covering the details outlined in telegram 1588. (Telegram 1621 from Karachi, January 11; Department of State, Central Files, 790D.5–MSP/1–1159)↩